Recommend a pattern Wednesday

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I think I should really get into sewing, and since my sewing mojo is making a slow come-back, I guess it wont hurt to just list what I would to sew when it does come back. This is probably a trap for everyone else to get on the same situation as me. Gotcha! There are multiple links in this entry that will lead you to the website where I got the patterns, so ya. Be warned. They are all good patterns though, so I can pretty much say you wont regret.

The Amuse Boho Tunic! I have had this pattern from One Thimble Issue 14. And I don't know why I still haven't sewn it up yet.

Miss Olivia Dress - I love Maxis, but I know I wont have a lot of wears. But still, I would love to sew this up soon!

Trilium Maxi Dress & Tunic! I got this from One Thimble Issue 14 too. I like the country look.

I also have a whole lot of bottoms to sew for Baby M from Made By Jacks Mom, namely the High Kick Harem,Skinny Jeans, the Cottleslow Cowl and Eclipse Top/Dress are all waiting for me, really. And I bite myself silly that they now have the Hot Chocolate for adults as well, and I didn't buy because I already have a lot on the waiting list.

The Connifer Jacket from Hey June - I have had this pattern for almost 6months.. I don't know why I still haven't started! Also need to make my 2nd Cheyenne Tunic...

I also have quite a list from Stitch Upon A Time waiting for me, I had the Merryweather & Arcadia Joggers waiting for me loyally, and oh wait, i have the Magnolia too, and oh the Cross Front Add on - well ok that is forgiven maybe because I just finally sew my Brazi few days ago, and it is oh so comfy! And when SUAT announce about 50% off, guess what? I grabbbed the Boxerwear Bundle. Had to! And I would probably do a few more pairs of Goldilegs as I keep running out of pants to wear to work lately, and the 2nd pair I made kindda shrunk so badly I could hardly pull it up..

It seems that my sewing mojo is on a lingerie shopping spree, because I made two of these! One for my mom (an all black - but not pictured) and this one for me. Feels great in it!

And I need a few more pairs of the Redwoods Jogger from Sew Like My Mom too..

That seem to escalate pretty quickly eh. Maybe I should write entries like this often so I know I have quite a lot of pattern to sew up...

How about you? What's your list like?

Waiting for my sewing mojo to return,

Jun

Wassalam

The Allium Dolman - as a tester (again!)

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. Following my entry of the Tulipa Dolman, here comes the women's version y'all!!!! It is such a wonderful experience testing for Mellissa. She is just so so kind to let me test again, despite the crappy photos. I should really do some justice and get a good camera and a friend who wont mind taking good photos of me or have someone else model it for me so I can take the pictures. Either way, Mellissa deserves better photos from me.

So yes!! A matching dolman for mommies!!! How awesome!!! It has all the great things the Tulipa has, the 3 lenghts, and 2 views and the sleeve options. The only difference is, this one comes with an inseam pockets (say what??!!). If you want an exact match, just make your own patch pocket. :)

For the adult version, please go with your high bust measument, you'll thank me later. As most women will have a smaller measurement for the high bust compared to the full bust, it helps to make this piece more fitted when you take your high bust measurement. As we all know, dolmans dont have an armsyce (armhole), so if you use your full bust measurement, chances are you may get a lot of room in the area.

I love love love the pattern! We went through 2 versions in this test, the first one ended up with most of us who did the tunic length having a long tunic, almost like a short dress. Still cute though! I love mine! So the 2nd version (which is the final version) has a shorter tunic and it will end right covering just your bum. You know how I love tunics!

Pls bear with my crappy photos, it is my blog, and this is the only place such crappy photos can appear as approved. Heh! You can surely look at the pictures other testers did, they all had awesome pictures! High quality and I am definitely jealous! I really should invest in a good camera and a good friend, man.. So ya.. Here comes my pictures...

And yeah, I know. I desperately need a better camera and at least a friend who could take better pictures for me. Oh, the sleeves on the pattern are not as long as mine, I just made mine longer because I just love super long sleeves. You'd get a standard long sleeves with her pattern.

Get the womens' pattern here
Get the bundle (womens' + kids/juniors') here

For the kids/juniors' only, refer to my prev entry here.

Oh if you are in Singapore looking for good knits.. Here are where I got them:
Oh Sew Knits & Basics : FB Grp, FB Page

And if you are not so much into sewing yourself, you can always approach me via #sewbasicsg on FB or IG, we can definitely chat.

Until the next testing opportunity with a better camera (i hope!),
Jun

Wassalam

Wilcom Hatch - My personal experience

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I know I have been yapping away about Wilcom and Hatch a whole lot this week. I just cant get over it (in a good way).

I miss the Digitizer a lot lot! So what in Digitizer do I miss the most?

The Applique command. Do you even know how neat it makes any applique, the ability to remove overlap, and still stitch so awesomely? Well this is proof!


I love love love how it removes overlap so precisely.

This applique command is only on Digitizer, and I love creating this! I didn't create this from scratch, I merged two designs together (a number applique and a bow applique). While I am sure other software may be able to do this, but I just don't think it will be as easy as Hatch does it.

Another thing I miss, is obviously digitizing on its own. Doing manual digitizing is awesome. I really don't know how else to emphasize it. It is so easy! Maybe it needs a bit of getting used to if you are not the right click left click kindda person, but it is oh so simple! I tried doing auto digitizing with the Creator version, but it is far far away from the precision of a manual digitizing effort. The end product of the two is almost worlds apart. Maybe if the design is super simple and the image file you have is top notch vector file, then perhaps you wont see much difference but if your file is altered, distorted (because of resolution) or very complex, oh the joy of being able to manually digitize them is like getting hot chocolate on a cold snowy night alone. Ok, I dont really know what it feels like to be in the cold snowy night alone (because I am in Sunny Singapore - and the only cold experience I had was in Shanghai minus the snow), but lets imagine anyway. :p

I also miss a lot of the fonts that comes with the Digitizer. Especially the one I used for the girls' name on the romper above. I love that font. I got something else that is close enough from DME, so I guess that'll make up for it.

The Creator being at US$599 and Digitizer being at US$1099, with just 4 BUT very major difference, I tell you that $500 difference goes a long long way. The Creator would be great for those who always have a vector image file to work with I think.

Oh what are the difference between Creator and Digitizer? The four major difference are that Digitizer could do 1)manual digitizing, 2)could fill/run shapes, 3)the digitizing tools  (this is nifty! I love them!), and 4)create applique (I love love love this ability!!!)

Those 4 is definitely worth the US$500 difference, but in the currency exchange, that is over sgd$700!! That is a lot... But I know it is worth every cent.

The only reason why I didnt go to Creator right away and got myself Customizer is because, I dont think I will use a lot of Creator's additional function (the difference between the two) a lot. I just felt that I will use a lot of the Digitizer stuff that Creator cant more than the Creator programme.

Many reasons here, because 1) who in Singapore have vectored files to do anything? I have come across a lot of companies who dont have the vectorized file of their logos. What I get is a badly distorted file when enlarged. I cant be digitizing a 2x2" image, can I? Who embroids that small... Ok fine maybe there is, but with auto digitizing I feel like it will just be a blob of thread in that space. 2) I do a lot of applique more than a fully digitized image, and Creator cant do appliques. 3) I would love to have access to all the nifty tools that makes digitizing fun!

SO, I am just saving US$900 for the Digitizer upgrade from my Customizer once I have the funds. That is SGD$1305 people.. 3/5 of my salary after CPF. And here I am wondering if I can afford to downgrade further to 3days a week work. In my dreams now.. in my dreams. I need to work triple hard, get more sales off my business and try make it up to earn all the funds so I can invest in this blardy good software, by hook or by crook. I am dead fix on that. No negotiations.

Sometimes I cry because I keep getting myself into an emotional trap like this by diving right into the best product there is in any world. Well, I guess I deserve the best, in that silly way.

So, what's so great about Customizer then, you may ask. Well, I feel that Customizer are great for those who are totally up for monogramming and editting lettering, adding words, and making a standard font all unique and one in a million again. How? Well, in Customizer you can amend each lettering to be closer to each other, to have an additional node to make some have extra sharp pulls, etc. And to make them straight, vertical, horizontal, diagonal, circular.. it is all in a click of button.

Between the Basic and Customizer is just US$50 difference, so I say go for the Customizer. Unless you are really not going to change any designs you have, you just need to change colors, stitch settings, change display and just need to export the files into different formats then ya maybe you wont need Customizer.

Between this two are 5 major difference of which is definitely hands down worth way more than the US$50 difference between the two. In Customizer, you can 1) create monogram 2)add lettering 3)edit/reshape letterings 4)can use true type fonts (ttf) and this is the awesome bit! 5) you get 60 professionally digitized fonts.

And if you use the reseller code, as per my last entry here, you will get the bonuses, and if you allow me to have your email address, I can refer you and they will send you the email to use a code so we get additional fonts. Why not? We both get free stuff! Then you can refer all your friends to it and get more free stuff, hey, really.. why not? You can leave me a comment, they are all reviewed and I can choose not to publish them, so dont worry. I wont be sharing anyone's email addresses in public like that.

Speaking of fonts, I like how ESA fonts has recommended smallest size to them. Example, certain fonts, like the monogram ones, the smallest recommended size would be 50mm, any smaller it may not stitch that well. but you can go bigger. The smallest fonts I saw has a recommended smallest size of 6mm, and I think that is an awesome size for small stuff and you don't want the text to overwhelm it. And I can promise you, it stitches really well.

I mean look at these:



I feel that it stitches well. All the fonts are smaller than 12mm, some as small as 8mm (due to the length of the names). It still stitches pretty. The intensity of the the stitches doesnt get too much or too little.

The red fuzzy lines that is with the font name, those are ESA fonts. The ones without the red fuzzy lines are True Type Fonts. I cant count them all, but definitely over 60 to chose from on my window. 

I also love the ability to show my customers what it looked like on different color background with the nifty background command, in which you can bring in type of fabric, color and even an apparel if you like. I think it is really cool.

Look!

That is the background command, just click it!

You will get this pop up, so many options there, play with it!

Look at all the options!

I love these blanks!

Realistic visualization, dont you think?

On caps too! So cool, right?

I like the ability to pick a hoop! That's the command you need to hit if you wanna see the red rectangles you see on the prev two images, the one on the romper is a 5X7 hoop and the one of the cap is a 4X4 hoop. If you don't see your hoop size, you can always create it yourself, and it is easy! I mean it!  

These are the lettering effects you can choose and play with, just a click guys.. How much easier can it get??

Also, with Wilcom Hatch, you use a log in profile, so no dongle to care for.

And if you are ready for the free trial, get it from here!

I promise you wont regret. It gives you full access to all that it can do as if it is the real thing! 30days, no credit info required. Just an email address. And when you are ready to purchase you can let me refer you so we both get free ESA fonts from DME. Have I told you that they now have over 400 cool fonts! Wanna see them? Yes? Go embrace yourself for 54pages of all gorgeous ESA fonts here, tell me, wont you want the additional fonts by having me refer you to them? ;) Decisions, decisions....

Until the next Hatch Facts chat (see you in the group!),
Jun

Wassalam

It gets weird where I am

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. It is indeed weird where I am.

Many question my interest in digitizing and creating. Pricing here locally can never get close to as cheap as what the US counterparts can offer. I mean look at fiverr. They charge us$5, and they are all awesome people, most of those who I really really love working with uses Wilcom.

Here where I am, everyone complains and says Wilcom is expensive, and not user friendly, and this and that. I just cant get by that. True, I don't have Wilcom, yet. But, I have the Hatch, albeit it being only the customizer, but I have tried the Digitizer via the trial version and it has been nothing but awesome. I am not paid to say all these by the way. It is truly and honestly my opinion and experience.

Maybe it is because I am a CAD designer working on AutoCAD, Revit and Microstation a lot that when I try Hatch, it is a familiar workstation, and the way it works are just the same, click click click, right click, left click, shortcut keys. They are familiar names and use to me. I work well like that.

I guess truthfully, it boils down to the cost. I won't deny, it is expensive. It is also pretty much like comparing the Paint with Abode Photoshop. How could anyone possibly compare them two?

And look, it is not cheap to produce drawings on CAD either, locally, freelance drafters charges something like $20-30 a drawing with max 2 revisions, subsequent revisions goes to like $10/change or smtg. Company sells their drawings with their endorsement and all for like $100/drawing or more. And not everyone buys, some take our PDFs and recreate instead. Making it seems cheaper that way, but really, when you put the hours and what not behind, it is just the same as signing the cheque. The softwares? Now, with subscription we are paying over $2500/yr, like over $200/mth. It is not cheap. Then people say oh the lifetime software is cheaper, why not just that? Well because the technology world is changing far faster than we can download. I have a 2015 on my pc, and before i knew it, my architects are using a 2017 version already. And guess what? There is a 2018 version waiting to be downloaded now. And would you keep buying new versions as they come out like that or would you pay monthly fee to get access to any versions you need? I rather the latter. Thank you.

So, back to digitizing in here, Singapore. Many said "Why must you work so hard to digitize something so simple? Just search for it and buy it off someone" Well ya, we can, we all can do that. But it is a different satisfaction when you do it yourself from scratch, and it is a form of zoning yourself out of the usual stresses. Maybe until you get to a point where it frustrates you too much because the software grew brains and decides to be smarter than us. Maybe.

So yes, I have been purchasing when I first started. I even said it "So many designs already availble, I wont need to digitize anything!" Well, I was wrong. No matter how many are available, it is always special to make it more unique and screams you more than anyone else.

Oh speaking of technology I am on the subscription version for Microsoft Office too. It is like $148/yr, but like I said, I get all the latest version and download it whenever I need onto 1pc, 1 tablet and my phone. I say why not? If $100 sounded too much, go for monthly payment, $14.80/mth. kindda sound ok right?

Now back to digitizing, see how messed up my head can get, now? Yeah. it is all over the place. So ya, digitizing. With the software so expensive for us here, we cant charge $10 to digitize anything. For our time worth and the softwares good stuff to come on, we need to charge at least $30 before we can switch on our laptop and launch that software. Now who pays that much when they can get on fiverr for a third of that price? Ya, sad. I know!

I still want my Hatch Digitzer though. It is for myself, yes? And if I become good, maybe I will take much lesser time and effort and maybe by then I can afford to charge like how fiverr does. Who knows? Just keep upgrading myself, I say. Noone can take the knowledge and experience I have been through. Noone can take that away from me. So what is there to lose? Just keep learning, I say. Keep learning. We will all get there. Don't give up...

Until I get more things out of my head,
Jun

Wassalam

Embroidery Software - Hatch by Wilcom & Digitizing Made Easy (Review)

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I know and well aware that I haven't been blogging reviews for a long while.

I have been hunting for a laptop ever since I heard of this programme. Oh wait, what? Sorry.. As most would have known, I have been embroidering for awhile now, I outgrew my Brother Innov-is NV955 and bought the Innov-is NV800E in June. I have been quiet about it and laid low for many reasons, and that would be another story altogether. Back to what I intended to write today, I first heard of Wilcom when I sent my logo to be digitized so I could embroid it on whatever I want.

The guy who helped me used Wilcom Pro and I am so impressed at the fine fine details it could do, very unlike any other digitizers who used different softwares. I knew then that if I were to go down the digitizing world, this is the software I will be after. However, we all know good stuff dont come cheap. Hold your breath guys.. Wilcom Pro costs £1899 onwards. The ultimate one that I would aim for would be the e4 designing which cost £2999. They have the subscription version now at £99/month. That is still a lot. So I held my breath till I almost fainted.

Then someone briefly mentioned Hatch by Wilcom.. Which led me to add myself to many groups of this programme users, and soon found myself downloading the free 30days trial which allows you to use all 4 programmes (from Basic, Customizer, Creator and Digitizer) and enables you full access to all its functions, including saving the source file (.emb) and to export it to various formats namely .jef, .pes, etc. How cool!

I got straight down to try out digitizing, and it was such a breeze to do it! I love it! Many said wilcom is not very user friendly, but they lied! I find it so easy to use! Perhaps it has a similar workspace and methods to what I do everyday at work, thus the easy transition. I managed to do a few good ones stitched out. I wish I could afford the Digitizer, and saving money for it is definitely in place. Oh it cost US$1099.

I settled down with the customizer when my trial was almost ending which cost US$199. I guess I can survive now, but I immediately miss having the Digitizer. I like how Hatch is modular, meaning, down the line, if I decide to upgrade to a Digitizer, I dont pay $1099 no more, I just need to pay the difference between my Customizer and the Digitizer. I have to save save and save.

I purchased mine via Digitizing Made Easy (reseller). There is a code to use of which you will get DME's bonuses which consist of 10 ESA fonts, one class and a month Ultimate Stash from John Deer's Ultimate Stash Plan. Why would people turn down these bonuses?

The fonts used on hatch are ESA fonts, not the typical BX font or what not. I find their fonts stitches better than other programmes, not sure why or if I am just biased having fallen in love with this programme or whatever it is.

I keep telling myself there is just no other programme as good as anything from Wilcom when you dive right in to the best there is in the embroidery world. I get disappointed with what other softwares offer. I just had had had to save all the money I have to upgrade to the Digitizer soon..

The only downside to this programme is that it is 1)expensive (but 200% worth the money) 2) it takes awhile to load up, about 2minutes (we are just aliens who keep wanting stuff fast, don't we?)

The up-side? It is awesome awesome awesome stuff! And the help you get when you are in Wilcom Hatch Fact FB group (link here) is amazing, they jump on your question and help you. And the amount of youtube videos to help you get around is also really really really good and 100% helpful! I love Sue's voice, almost like my mom when she taught me how to sew the first time, very comforting and you can almost feel her supporting you along the way to get you moving forward. So much love for DME!

Leave me your email so I can refer you to the software and if you purchase via my "refer a friend" link we both get additional free ESA fonts! Win-Win people! They are over 200 fonts and all 200 of them are so pretty!!!!! I would need them all!!!!!

I am in need to make sales to afford the Digitizer, people!!

So ya, hit me up with your email addresses in the comments below (I wont publish them if you leave a note for it) for the links!

My next entry of this wonderful software goes through the differences of all 4 programes, you can read it here.

Until I save money for Hatch Digitizer,
Jun

Wassalam

Tulipa Dolman - a tester perspective!

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I know and well aware that I haven't really post much about sewing lately. I havent had much chance or opportunity to test patterns and I miss it so much that when I saw Mellissa from Sew Like My Mom call for tester, I applied immediately!

Time was really not very much on my side lately, but I just had to jump on it. I knew her pattern is always so perfect and easy to tape together and instructions would be breeze, so I was confident to just give it a go despite being very busy.

I was given 3 days, I think.. And I made it before the deadline! Yeay!

I first knew of Sew Like My Mom when I was looking for free patterns to just try and to know designers and such. I stumbled upon the Sycamore Shorts. I love the instructions (and tips) and the awesome end product that comes along. I knew then, SLMM is definitely going to the list of awesome designers, and led me to purchase her Boxwood and Redwood Joggers. No regrets! It was one of the best decisions made and have since made more than 3 pairs each. See my blog abt it here.

So, when I saw a tester call from SLMM, I just had to! The only thing I lacked was a good worthy picture to go to the front page or anywhere. I guess I have to up my game soon if I want to be in the tester pool and stay there. Anyways, Mellissa is so nice.. I was assigned to make a 3T tunic with long sleeves and that I did.

She is one of the designers that I really dont mind taping A4s together, I mean if you know me, you know I am really lazy with taping patterns together, but hers I dont quite mind because I know it will match easy and perfectly. I taped it all up in less than an hour, with handphone and baby's distraction (if you need to know why it took THAT long).

It didnt take long for me to dive into which fabric to make it with. I bought cheap ones locally for $6/yard I dont see why I need to think about it. I had remnants lying around that is just enough, and used that as well.

The group was an awesome bunch, I get to go through the errors even before Mellissa opened an error thread, so instructions thereon was easy. It flows and is really easy to follow, and if you are an intermediate, you probably just scan thru and off you go to put them all together.

I took less than an hour to make a fit test and another hour to make another 2!

I love dolmans for many reasons, one, there is no armscye (armhole), which to me means comfort without compromising style. It comes with 3 lengths, a shirt length, tunic length and dress length. Perfect! One pattern, 3 styles.. we can go places! It has 2 views, now.. that multiplies to 6styles... View A is a non-gathered front and View B is gathered front, which means more space to swing the skirt around, also good for baby tummy! Yummy yummy tummy! And it comes in short (no sleeve piece needed) and long sleeve! How much more awesome can it get, right?

Now.. enjoy the pictures ppl!

What I love about this pattern? The curved front and back for the body is a nice feature. Actually I went for these because of the pockets, but time was not on my side to get that done, so there are now queuing at my machine to get the pockets sewn on.

I am all for it when an adult version comes out.. which may actually be sooner than I thought!

Oh! Here's the links if you would love to get the patterns and sew your own:

Bundle: sz 12m - 16 : https://www.etsy.com/.../tulipa-dolman-bundle-pdf-pattern...

Sz 6-16 : https://www.etsy.com/.../tulipa-dolman-pdf-pattern-6-16...

Sz 12m - 8 : https://www.etsy.com/.../tulipa-dolman-pdf-pattern-12m-8...

Do join her fb group if you need help of any kind, and if you not so much into sewing, you can always find me at #sewbasicsg (both FB and IG) and let me know, if orders are not overwhelming, I will be happy to sew it for you at a price. :)

Oh if you are in Singapore looking for good knits.. Here are where I got them
First picture, purple heathered knit & Unicorn is from :
Oh Sew Knits & Basics : FB Grp, FB Page
And the polka dots and the pink "marble" effect is from a local shop at People's Park:
Brighton : FB page

Happy sewing!

Until the next blog,
Jun

Wassalam